Automatic fire-extinguisher valve.



A. BLAUVELT.

AUTOMATIC P1111: 11111111111115111111 VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. B, 1909.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.'

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l ...l L M.

i IL- A. BLAUVELT. AUTOMATIG 'PIRE EXTINGUISHEB VALVE APPLIOATION TILEDHAB. 8, 1009.

Patented FebQZ, 1911.

4 BHEBTEB'HEET 2.

A. BLAUVELT. JUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHEE VALVE. APPLIUTIOI; HLM) ma. s,19cm.

m m \\\l N, n A 4m.

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Q WH

A.. BLAUVBLT. AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHEB VALVE.

APPLIOATIOFYFILED ARS, i809.

984,885. Patented Feb. 21, 1.9.11.

4 EERSTE-SHEET 4.

fg@ j@ `tion` the same emhttdying features ot' ada specification.

Ymechanism. the construction and arrange- .LEERT BLAUVLT. OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS,

A'IOMA'C FIRE-EXTINGUISHER VALVE.

v Specification of Letters Patent.` lgltallted Feb. 2li, 1911.

Application lett March 8, 1909. Serial No. 482.683.

To all whom'it 'may concern;

Be it ltnown that l. Annuler BLALfvnI/r, a citizen ot' the UnitedStates. residing at Chi cago, in the, county ot toohV and State ot'illinois, have invented certain new and useful lx'nprovements inAutomatic Fire-EX- y tinguisher Valves, ot which the following is i Myinvention relates to automatic tire; sprinkler systems otl the dry pipetype and t theol'ijeet thereof is to provide automatic t valve mechanismYtor such systems which is ot novel construction and etiicient inoperavantage which will be made apparent from the descriptionhereinafter given.

'My invention relates more particularly to the mechanism or devices forcontrolling the aetion ot the` 'alves proper and the main objectthereot' is Vto provide for the positive opening ot' the valves when thepressure in the distributing pipes ot the system has4 been reduced tothe lredetermined minimum t'or the operation ot' the system and theconsequent applying of water thereto. Speaking in general terms. suchcontrolling devices consist ot' novel and improved lever mechanisminterposed between they vater and airvalves usual indry pipe valves,which lever mechanism is by preference adapted to cooperate with aweight pret'- erahly. arranged within the valve casing itselic4 and inthe same chamber witl the lever ment of such trigger mechanism andweight mechanism being such ,as topermit the said meclmnisn't to operateirrespective ot' the weight which. however.y is preferably emi ployed toassure a more positive action ot the valves and to cause them to hereleased more unit'orml }y at a desired ,and predetermined reduction otlpressure in the distributing system. i

My invention also includesI the provision l .of a cover plate for thevalve casing, which cover plate is so constructed and adapted tocooperate with the valve mechanism as to insure the setting of theweight inoperative position ready tor action wl'len`the cover plate isapplied and closed.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is a central seetional elevation ot' inyautomatie valve showing the valves proper in closed position and themechanism yset read-y for action: Fig. 2 a slnnlar view but. showing thevalves and i mechanism in operatlve.position; Fig. 3 a

section on theline of Fig. l; Fig. 4 a A section on the irregular line.4 4 of Fig. 1; y and Figs. 5, tt and t perspective views ot' the threemembers of the lever mechanism.

Referring to the present embodiment of my invention as illustrated inthe drawings, the valve device or mechanism comprises a casing 1 havingat its lower end 'an inlet open-ing 2 conununicating with the usualriser connected to a source o't' water sup ply and provided at its upperend with an outlet opening t connnunicatiug with the distributing pipesotl the sprinkler system, the main pipe ot which is illustrated at lnthe present instance the valve easing is divided into two'ehainbers (tand 7, the. t'ormer Containing the'so-called water valve and the triggeror lever mechanism between the valves and the latter the so-called airvalve. rl`he communication between the inlet openiitgl Q and clnnnber ttis controlled by the water alve lnorma'llft-r seated upon its seat 9 andthe communication between such ehamht and the chamber 7 is controlled bythc air valve l() which is normally seated upon its seat 11. The triggeror lever mechanism hereinafter described in detail consists ot' a seriesof levers interposed between the two valves proper and preferablycooperating with a pivote-d weight, it being understood that. the airpressure ot' the sprinkler system acting downwardly upon the air valvel() maintains the trigger or lever mechanism in its set position and thelatter conse piently holds the 'ater "alvo upon its seat..

Describing the parts in detail, the water valve is-mounted upon thelower end ot' an adjusting screw 1Q which is screw-tln'eaded through abridge-piece 13 as shown in ,Figi l. This bridge-piece is pivoted atoneend in the bearing lugs 14 extending upwardly from the bottom ot illechamber (t. (Figs. 1, Zand 5). rlihe construction and arrangement otlthe bridge-piece and the valve asing are such that. when the levermechanism is released and thel water valve opened hy the pressure ot'the vater supply,`the valve and its bridge-piece will be swung wholly toone. side of the water in ct in order to provide a free and unobstructedpassage,l for the 'ater as illustrated in Fig. 2. The water val 'e t;may be nmunted upon the, adjusting screw in any suitable manner and asherein shown the lower end of such screw is provided with a' head orflange 12 fitting into a `screwthrcadml rei-ess or socket in the'upperface ot' the water valve and held in position therein-by means of thesplit nut 15.

The free end of the hridgepiece 13 is adapted to engage an intermediatetrigger or lever 1Gu which, as clearly shown in the perspective, Fig. 5,is forked at its lower end by the provision of the parallel arms 16ahaving similar irregular-shaped bearing openings 16h. Onc'member ofthefork is provided with a laterally-extending lug 1G on which the weightis arranged to exert stress as hereinafter explained. The upper 'itpasses through the intermediate lever, such pin being at this point halfround, that is, semi-circular in cross section. asseen in Figs. 1 and 2.The ends of thebearing pin are left round and are adapted to bear in the'bearing lugs 18 and 19 which here form a part of the valve casing, theintermediate lever being arranged to oscillate in a` plane lbetween suchbearing lugsas clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The third member of thetrigger mechanism, which is shown by itself in the perspective, Fig. 7,consists of a strut V2() interposed between the upper end of theintermediate lever and the underside of the air valve, such strut beingpivoted at 21 in ythe forked and depending head of a screw 22 whichextends upwardly through the air valve and is heldin place by means ofthe nut 23. This strut is pivotcd at one side of its central point.thereby providing a longer arm 20a and a shorter arm 20, the longer armengaging the intermediate lever and the vshorter arm being arranged toengage or contact the air valve, in the present instance such contactbeing against a curved lor socket portion 24 of the head of the screw 22at a point at the base or inner ends of the members of the forks of suchhead, Figs. land 3. In order that tlie upward pressure on the air valveexerted by the strut shall be such as to lift the valve upwardly in ahorizontal plane and prevent the same from being canted, I prefer tolocate this contact 24 between the. strut and the air valve on the sameplane or substantially the same plane as the seat 11 of such air valve.By reason ot' the connecting of the strut with the air valve, such strutis held to the latter and removed from interference with the flow ofwater by the opening of such air valve, as shown in Fig. 2. Furthermore,by reason of the pivoting of such strut to the air valve andtheprovision of the longer and shorter arms, thev restoring of the airvalve to normal or closed position automatically brings the strut `toits proper or normal position ready for the settingof the triggermechanism, the. longer arm 2()a being the heavier and consequentlyswinging the strut to such normal position. i

It will be understood that the air `valve is pivotcd in its chamber 7,the same being pivotcd upon the lever arni 25.

In practice the valves proper are seated andthe three membersof thetrigger mechanism ai'e set as shown in Fig. 1 and the adjusting ortension screw 12 is screwed downwardly in order to hold the 'water valveupon its seat and to supply some tension or stress upon the triggermechanism, which stress is resisted by the pressure of the sprinklersystem acting downwardly upon the air valve 10. When this air pressureis reducedl to a predetermined amount through any 'cause such as theopening of a. sprinkler head, the trigger mechanism is released, the

strut 20 being permitted to oscillate and the intermediate lever andbridgepiece being thereupon permitted to swing in opposite passage, as

to be actuated more positively and uniformly i according to a certaindegree' of reduction of pressure, I employ a weight device cooperatingwith the trigger mechanism. As shown andby preference this weight deviceis in the same chamber as the trigger mechanism,I the case beingsomewhat swelled out onone side at 1., Fig. 3 in order to accommodatethe wcight.` The weightI de vice consists of a weight proper marked 26which is pivotcd upon a bearing pin 2T through theniediuin oi a yoke 28,oner of whose arms is extended at 2S) forattachnientto such weight, asclearly indicated in Fig. 4.-. i 'lliis yoke is in the form of a bailwhose cross arm 2 8 is adapted to bear upon the lug 16c of theintermediate lever. The

weiglit 6 is of a predetermined weight and by reason of its describedcooperation with the intermediate lever it is arranged to con- Fig. 1the cross bar16 of the intermediate.

lever is located close to and atl one'side of' "secured in place.

the bearing pin 1T whilethe lug 16C is located at the op osite sidethereof, with the. result that the ower edge of such cross bar serves asa ulcrum for the action of the weight, the bearing pin 17 being cut awayin the described manner in order that this result may be accomplished.The weight.l

is quite. important iii automatic sprinkler practice.

Another feature of my invention 'relates to a provision for compellingthatJ after the triggermechanisnris set the weight. shalhy also be inset or operative 'position before the coverplate for access or workingopening to the chamber 6 can be applied and To this end the cover plate30, which .in the present instance is pivoted to the casing 1. at. 31and secured in place by the fasten-ing bolts 32 is provided on its innerface with an inwardlyextending hig 33, Figs. 2l and 4, 'adapted tocooperate with a rod 34 which at its front or outer end is bent at aright angle to form a handle or lever 34 which may be oscillated in aplane parallel with the cover plate 3() to rotate the rod.- 'lh-e rearend of the rod is also bent, in a direction parallel with the front end.and lies below or within a recessl formed in thebottoin ott-he weight26,. Figs. 2 and'4. This rod 34 thus pro vides means whereby th'eoperator or engineer may as a needed working convenience elevate theweight so ity will not interfere with manual resetting or restoring ofthe trigger mechanism to normal position.

.liVhen the trigger mechanism propel' is thus restored the handle 3lmust of'necessity be restored to. normal position and lower the weightinto.uorinal working position in to -coinpletethe operative setting ot'the'- valve. Except. for such provision the operatoi' might forget. toproperly place the weight and close vthe valve without benefitofthewcight.

ln this art as practiced by others the fact that the cover plate mustnecessarily and to the inind ott the operator uiifaillngly he closed asa .completion of thtl setting of this type ot valve has not heretoforebeen made ot avail to insure that the'valve mecliffuiisin in full beproperly set before the cover plate is closed by designing said coverplate to be in positive mechanical cooperation with the valve mechanism.

My invention in its broader aspect is not to loe-confined totheparticular form ot mechanical cooperation' shown because other practicalmeans may he adopted, the hand lever and cover plate lug herein shownbe# ing. however, very simple and ethcient for the purpose 1n view. I

l'. claim:

`1. The combination-with the 'asing ot anv automatic sprinkler valve andvalve mechanism `therein comprising a train oi operating mechanism, aweight. cooperating ltl'ierei'vith. and a lever arrangedto be shifted inone position to lift said weight and per mit said operating mechanism tobe set. andshifted in the other position to permit the weight to assumecooperative relation with the operating mechanism, of a cover plate forsaid casing, said cover plate having an inwardly-projecting.lug arrangedto interfcrc with said lever 'when the latter is in its first-mentionedposition and thcreliy prevent. the application of the cover plate.. 'iothe casing` and notY to interfere with such lever when 'it is in itslast-mentioned position. i

2, In an automatic sprinkler system, the combination with the casing andwith thc valves, air and water, and valve actuating mechanism therein,ot' an independent movable weight mounted to rock in bearings seated insaid casing and tending through connection with the operating mechanismto open said aiivvalve, said weight being located within the casing.

3. In an automatic sprinkler system. the combination with the casinghaving in inlet communicating with a source ot' water supply and'anoutlet coinn'iunicating with the distributing pipes of, the s vstein, awater valve governing'said inlet, an air valve governing said outlet,and with trigger mechanisin comprising a series ol interengaging leversinterposed between the valves and dependent for set. position upon thepressure ot the system onvthe air valve. ot a weight pivotallyinounted"independently in hearings v y.. in the wallsotf and arrangedwithin the casdoingl so, else the handle will iiiterterewitli closing ofthe cover plate. il() as is necessary ing and adapted to exert itsstress upon the levers, the latter being arranged to operate with' orindependently of the weight'.

4. In an automatic sj'irinkler system. the coinl'iination ywith theeasing having an inlet communicating with a source ot' water slipply andan outlet communicating with the distributing,r pipes of the system, awater llt) 65 valve, a strut coperating with the air valve,

air valve, and an intermediate lever pivoted i to rock in bearingswithin the casingacting `as a trigger vbetween the bridge piece and thestrut, a screw for exerting pressure between the water valve and bridgeto provide some of the stress upon the trigger mechanism, of a weightmounted to rock within the Casin independently of the trigger mechanisman adapted to coperate with said intermediate lever and to provide aconstant amount of supplemental stress upon such mechanism.

5. In an automatic sprinkler system, the combination with the casinghaving an inlet communicating with a source of Water supply and anoutlet communicating with the distributing pipes of the system, a watervalve governing said inlet, an air valve governing saidoutlet, and withtrigger mechanism interposed between `the valves and comprising a.bridge piece coperating with the water valve, a strut coperating withthe air valve, and an intermediate lever acting as a' trigger betweenthe bridge piece and 4the strut, a screw for exerting pressure betweenthe water valve and bridge piece to provide some' of the stress upon thetrigger mechanism, of a weight mounted to rock within the casingindependently ofI the trigger mechanism and adapted to'coperate with 3.0said intermediate lever and to provide a predetermined amount of stressupon such -mechanism, anda rocking lever within the casing for elevatingsaid. weight when the trigger mechanism is to be set.

6.' In an automatic sprinkler system, the combination with the casinghavingv an inlet communicating with a source of water supply and anoutlet communicating with the distributing pipes of the system, a watervalve governing said inlet,v an air valve governing said outlet, andwith trigger mechanism'mterposcd between the valves and comprising abridge piece coperatingwith the water valve, a strut coperating with theair valve, and anintermedlate lever acting as a trigger between thebridge piece and the strut, means for exerting stress between the water'valve and bridge piece, of a pin on which said intermediate'leveroscillates and which has a cutaway portion where it passes through suchlever to permit the latter moving in a direction transverse to said pin.when the trigger is tripped, and a weight adapted to coperate with saidintermediate 5i lever by exerting stress thereupon. i

` -7. In an automatic sprinkler system, the

combination with the casing having an"inlet communicating with a sourceof water supply and an outlety communicating with the 50 distributingpipes of the system, a water valve governing said inlet, an air valvegoverning said outlet,V of trigger mechanism interposed between thevalves and comprising a bridge piece coperating/ with the water n8. Inan automatic sprinkler system, the

between the bridge piece and the strut and `combination with the casing'having an inlet communicating with a source of water supply and-anoutlet communicating with the distributing pipes of the system, and withthe water valve governing said inlet and the air valvegoverning saidoutlet, ofvtrigger mechanism interposed between the valves andcomprising a bridge piece coperating with the water valv`e a strutcoperat'ing 85 with the airivalve, and a-n intermediate lever acting asa trigger between th'e bridge piece and the strutand having a pivotopening,a cross-bar adjacent said opening and at'one sidel thereof and aprojecting lug. at the opposite side of such opening, a pivot pin 1nsaid opening, and a weight adapted to co-Y operate with saidintermediate lever by ex- 4 erting its stress upon said lug, said bridgepiece engaging the cross-bar. 95 9. In an automatic sprinkler system,the combination with the casing having an inlet A communicating with asource of Water supply and'an outlet communicating with t e` Idistributing pipes of the system and with the water valve governing saidinlet and the air valve governing said outlet, of trigger mechanisminterposed between the -valves' and comprising a bridge piececoperatingv` with'tthe water valve, a strut coperating 105 with the airvalve, and an intermediate lever actin f as a trigger between thebridge'piece and t 1e strut, and having a pivot opening, a cross-baradjacent said opening and at one side thereof and a projecting lug atthe opposite side of such opening, a pivot pin 1n said opening, and apivoted wei ht having a yoke adapted to bear Vupon sai lug and tothereby exert stress upon the trigger mechamsm.

10. In an automatic sprinkler system,the combination. with the easmghaving an opening in one side aninlet communicating'with a source ofwater supply and an outlet com-' municating with the distributing pipesof the system, a cover plate for said opening and with the water valvegoverning said inlet and theair valile governing said outlet, oftriggersmechanism interposed between the valves and comprisinga bridgepiece cooperatingwith the water valve, a strut coy operating with theair valve, and an intermediate lever acting as a trigger between thebridge piece and the strut, a-pivoted weight adapted'to exertstress-upon a portion of the 130 intermediate lever, and a rocking leveradapted to be manually operated. to elevate said Weight to permit thetrigger mechanisin being set and afterward to lower said Weight ontosaid trigger mechanism, the

latter movement of the lever being necessary l .lo permit restoration ofthe cover plate.

ll. In an automatic sprinkler system, the combination with the casinghaving an inlet K communicating.with a Source of Water supply vand anoutletr communicating with the distributing pipes of the system, andwith the Water valve governing' said inlety and the air valve governingsaid outlet, of trigger l mechanism interposed between the valves 15 andcomprising a bridge piece cooperating with the ivalervalve, a Strutcooperating with the air valve, and an interinediatelever acting as atrigger between the bridge piece and the strut, and a forked lower endwith a connecting` cross bar engaged by ihe bridge piece, one of thenienibers of the forli having-a projecting lng, and a Weight adapted toexert Stress upon Such lug'.

ALBERT BLVELT.

Witnesses 5 LOUISE. lflnwlx, i Bonnin' H. Donnizniux.

